Maaike Kito Lebbing, known professionally asKito, is an Australian record producer, songwriter and DJ currently based inLos Angeles, California. Between 2011 and 2014, she was a member of the duoKito & Reija Lee, and in 2012 collaborated withFeadz onElectric Empire. She has released an EP in 2018 calledHaani and a number of singles, and has remixed songs for others as well as producing songs. In 2019 she was nominated for the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year (Los Angeles) at the2020 Global APRA Music Awards.

Kito grew up in the small town ofDenmark, Western Australia,^[1] and first began producing music as a teenager usingFruityLoops.^[2] At 17, Kito moved toPerth to study fashion, however soon quit and began working at a record store while studying music for a year atTAFE.^[1] Kito began working as a DJ at nightclubs in Perth, and in 2006 travelled toEurope for a year, which led her to develop a love ofdubstep and inspired her to become a full-time musician.^[1]

In 2008, she debuted her first releases throughSkream's Disfigured Dubz label.^[2] Kito later sent demos of hers which she had created with friend and vocalist Reija Lee to producerDiplo onMySpace, which caused him to sign them to his labelMad Decent as a duo.^[2][3]Kito & Reija Lee relocated toLondon in 2011,^[4][3] releasing their debutextended playSweet Talk in the same year, as well as remixingBeyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)".^[5] Kito collaborated withFeadz in 2012 on the EPElectric Empire,^[6][7] and in 2013, rapperTrinidad James sampled the group's song "Run for Cover" for his song "Females Welcomed", which was also later used as a sample forBig Boi,T.I. andLudacris' song "King Shit".^[8] The group released a second EP in 2014,II,^[8] however disbanded in 2015. Kito remained in London and worked as a producer, creating songs for musicians such asMabel, and worked onJorja Smith's 2018 debut albumLost & Found.^[4]

After a break-up in 2017, Kito moved back to her hometown in Western Australia, and recorded her second solo EP,Haani.^[9] The EP, released in the following year, featured collaborations with musicians such asElley Duhé,Broods andHudson Mohawke.^[9] She soon relocated toLos Angeles,^[10] and after signing toAstralwerks/EMI Music Australia released "Wild Girl", a collaboration withEmpress Of,^[11] soon followed by "Alone with You" featuringAlunaGeorge.^[12]

In 2019, Kito was nominated for the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year (Los Angeles) at the2020 Global APRA Music Awards.^[13]

In September 2022, Kito released "Sad Girl Music" featuringBanks.^[14]

Kito was influenced by her mother's love ofKate Bush as a child, as well asDJ Shadow'sEndtroducing..... (1996) andDr. Octagon'sDr. Octagonecologyst (1996) which were introduced to her by her sister.^[15] As a teenager, Kito primarily listened todrum and bass andhip hop,^[8] and citesBurial as one of the dubstep musicians who influenced her love of the genre.^[1]

• Official website
• Kito atSoundCloud
• Kito at Facebook
• Kito atAllMusic